Tag feeding and printing machine



F. KOHNLE. TAG FEEDING AND PRINTING MACHINEx APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 5. I915- Patented Jan. 6, I920.

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F. KOHNLE.

TAG FEEDING AND PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5. 19I6.

1,327,2%1 Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

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' TAG FEEDING AND PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 5. 1916.

1,327,24 1 Patented "Jan. 6, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 17 J If 3 2 Y /f 7/ If I 'IIIIjIIfESIHH T a I ,7; 1

2/ 2f Z7 20 7 J 7 Elvwvmtoz (It-EPW943 FREDERICK KOH'NLE, OF DAYTON,

OHIO, ASSIGNQR was TO THE MONARCH TAG COMPANY, 1

OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHID.

TAG FEEDING PRINTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented m. a, wee.

Application filed September 5, 1916. Serial No. 118,364.

To all whom it may concern:

of the type disposed in par Be it known that I, FREDERICK Konnvnn, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented a new an useful Improvement in Tag Feeding and Printing Machines, ofwhich the following specification is a full disclosure.

My invention relates to a machine for feeding gang tag strips to bring each tag consecutively beneath printing devices for printing any desired tag datathereon and severinga successively printed tag from the gang strip.

The machine preferably operates upon a particularly arranged gang tag strip, in which the strip along one of its longitudinal margins is divided .by spaced notches or slits, defining the individual tag widths, and the notches provide shoulders, each adapted to be engaged by the feeding devices for appropriately feeding the strip in step motions.

A longitudinally reciprocating slide member carrying a strip engaging finger and ink pad, operates in a timed relation with a vertically reciprocating slide member, carrying a type holder and knife. Thus the two slide members move in directions transversely to cross or intersect each other, and bring the ink pad and type holder in a superposed position for a period in their operation to ink the type. The timing of the members is so arranged that the ink pa'd remains stationary during the type inking interval, and the ink pad surface and face 'llel plane and compressmgly engaged.

The machine is adapted to. operate upon different tag strip sizes, and also upon strips of different classes of tags, as pin tags or string tags, and upon the different sizes of one style without adjustment of the device.

An object of the invention is to provide a reciprocating slide sliding upon a rigid guide support, carrying tag feeding devices for feeding a gang tag strip to consecutively bring a tag of the strip beneath printing and severing devices, and provide a substantial mounting for an inking pad and bring the same at a timed operation beneath the printing devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reciprocating inking pad supported to move in a determined planebeneath a moving trans-- and the two opwhereby the pad reciprocating type holder versely to the inking pad erating 1n timed relation,

.moves beneath the type of the holder when the latter is in itsuppermost position, and rests while the'type holder ascends to impress itstype upon the pad, avoiding any wiping action between the pad and type.

Various other features and objects are. more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and, in such drawings, like characters of refer-' ence denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, of which Figure. 1 represents a side elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is an elevation taken from a side oppositeto that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end elevation with portions-of the device shown in section. Fig. 5 is a detailed view of theupper portion of the machine shown in Fig. 4 with some of the parts shown in a shifted position from that in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is atop plan view of the. tag strip supporting table. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6;,- but loaded with a staple tag strip. FigfjS is an end elevation of the upper portion of the machine opposite to that shown in Fig. 4, with portions ther'c of shown in section. Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9, Fig. t.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a pedestal support which maybe suitably secured upon a stand or table. Its front face is grooved longitudinally to provide a guide way for the vertically reciprocating slide late or member. 2, which is maintained in its slide by the oppositely projecting guide plates 3-3, fixed to the standard 1, eac plate 3 overlapping an edge of the slide member 2. The slide plate 2 carries a roller 4 journaling upon a stud 5 fixed to and projecting from the plate 2, the roller engaging into an endless cam groove 6 formed within the hub extension 7 of the driving member 8. The driving-member 8' may be rotated by suitable transmission devices not shown. The driving member 8 is fixed upon a shaft 9 which projects through a longitudinal slot 10 in the slide plateQ and through the bearing 11 formed integral with the pedestal 1. The cam groove 6 is of a particular outline to move the slide 2 carrying the printing and severing devices in'a proper timed relation with a tag feeding mechanism, to be hereinafter described. r

The arrangement of the cam groove is such as to rovide for a dormant interval of the slide 1n its uppermost position in each cycle of the cam to bring and sustain the type holder mounted upon the slide into a normal position above. the tag supportlng table, and allow an inking pad to be moved beneath the type carried by theholder for inking purposes. vides for an auxiliary reciprocating action short of a complete reciprocating motion of the slide for impressing the type against the pad and withdrawing the same therefrom for clearing the pad subsequent to the pad motion away from its inking position.

The slide 2 is provided with a bracket or arm extension 12 extending laterally therefrom, and in a superposed relation above the tag supporting table 13. The table 13 is rigidly secured to the lateral] extending flange 14 of the standard 1. T extended bracket 12 and slide plate 2 may be referred to as an actuator and mechanically the equivalent of that shown and described in a prior application, Serial No. 845,724, filed June 17, 1914, in which the arm or extension 12 serves as a saddle for removabl supporting the type holder 15, and as i1 ustrated, the type holder is provided with laterally projecting ribs adapted toengage into rooves formed in the saddle or arm 12 of t e actuator, suspending the type chase slightly below the base or undersurface of the arm, which surface provides an abutment for the t e sustained within the holder 15. The holder is of a construction affording convenient insertion and removal of each individual type bar for readily changing a set-up. The holder as thus mounted forms a unitary part of the actuator and very substantial mounting of the ty e to produce high quality printing.

he actuator also supports a cutter-blade arranged substantially the same as shown and described in said priorapplication, comprising a removable knife 16 mounted adjacent an end of the type holder or chase to sever a subsequently printed tag from the strip, and as the features of advantage of such construction are clearly set forth in said earlier ap lication, further details of description need not be made herein.

Table construction.

plied and removed to and from the flange 14- 'wardly at right angles The cam groove also proe laterally of the standard. As illustrated, the machine is capable of operating on different size ranges of several different styles or types of tags, as for instance, pin'tags, string tags and foldable fastener tags.

he plate 17 lengthwise along one of its edges, has a rib or wall 18 extending upto the plate with its inner surface 18 of the Wall serving as a guide for some styles of tag strips, tracking the strip forwardly for maintaining its alined position within the machine.

Upon the table base late 17 a second plate 19 is mounted, w ich in width is smaller than the plate 17 to establish an offset relation between said plates along one side providing a longitudinal way 20 be-- tween the edge of the plate 19 and the guide wall or surface 18 for receiving the prongs of the staples of a pin tag strip or tag fastening means of other styles of tags.

As shown in Fig. 8, the machine is loaded with a pin tag strip the tag staple extending downwardly adjacent the edge of the plate 19. The forward or receiving end of the plate 19 is notched inwardly in a horizontal plane as at 20.

A swinging tension member 21 is mounted Within said table notch having one edge looped upwardly to extend above the table surface of the plate 19 and overlappingly thereto, and the loo'p longitudinally is disposed at an angle relative to the linear edge of the tag strip or opposite guide surface of the Wall 18. The member 21 being adapted to engage the outer longitudinal edge of the tag strip as shown in Fig. 7, forcibly mamtainlng the strip against the guide strip 22 or guide surface 18 of the wall 18 depending upon the style of tag fed into the machine. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the tag strip engages the guide strip 22. The tension member 21 is swiveled upon a pin 23 engaged into the plate 19 and a spring 24-fi Xedto said member 21 and plate 19 provides the proper tension for the member 21 to urge its looped edge toWardthe longitudinal guide walls. Upon the wall 18 a guard member 25 is yieldingly mounted and extended to gap over the guide-way 20, housing the guide strip 22, and the end of said member 25 is flanged downwardly longltudinally providing an upper guide edge for .the tag strip for confining the strip upon the 'tablsurface and preventing any upward or flexing tendency of the strip which might interfere with its feeding operation or in ure the individual tags. The prong guiding edge of the plate 19 at its receiving end longitudinally for a portion of its length has ahead 26 protruding therefrom (see Flgs. 4 and 7) which engages the prongs f the staple and serves to slightly displace the staples from their right angled plane Wlth respect to the As each SWJCLS having the prongs of 1 sive staple is moved past the forward end of the bead 26 it will assume its normal. rightangled position, the rear prongs abuttingly engagingthe end of the head 26 to prevent retrograde movement of the tag strip.

As heretofore explained, a plurality of linear guiding surfaces are provided to accommodate for and occupying an adjacent relation necessitates making provision for moving guide strip 22 out of its normal position When not in use and clearing the guidesurface 18%. The guide strip 22, therefore, is hingedly mounted, adapting the same to be swung upwardly above the elevation of the table and held in such upwardly disposed position by a guard plate 27 fulcrumed upon a bracket 27 ceivingend of the machine (see Figs. 4, 5, (land 7). The guard plate 27 has an angularly bent portion serving as a hopper for directing the tag strip fastening means into the receiving channel or guide-way 20 and a straight portion notched to provide a fork, interlockingly engaging the guidestrip 22, for locking the same in its normal position as shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 5, the guide strip 2-2 is shown as swung upwardly out of commission.

' Tag strip feccli/ng/ mechanism.

The tag strip feeding mechanism comprises a slide member 28, bridging the table, having a leg 29 dependin'gly projecting from the outer or front edge and tracking up the plate 17. The opposite edge of the slide member '28 is laterally flanged providing a gib 30 longitudinally sliding in the gib-way of the bracket 31 fixed to the flange 14 of the standard 1, (see Figs. 3 and 4).

The slide member or carriage 28 notched as at 32 (see Figs. :2 ceive the fulcrum end of the feed pawl 01' finger 33; the finger being pivotally secured to said member by a pin134. The opposite end of the feed pawl has a ratchet tooth 35, arranged to engage, in a forward or feeding stroke of the carriage, into a registering notch or slit 36 of. a series formed along one margin of the: tag strip. The tooth engages against an edge or shoulder of the tag, forn'ied by the notches 36, and

is and 9), to repushes the tag strip so :1. to mlvance the tags comprising the strip into proper position to be operated upon. The feeding motion imparted to the tag strip being equal to the width of the tags or corresponding to the spacing distance between the slits. The forward feeding motion is accurately controlled and limited by the bumper pin 37 (see Fig. 9) adjustably secured to the crosspiere fixed to the 31 and extending across the gib-way. thus closing the end of the gib-Way 01' channel of said bracket. With the carriage thus strikdifferent styles of tag strips 4 carriage and actuating means,

secured to the wall 18 at the re the space following as to bring the end tag,

endof the guide bracket of motion can be regulated with precision.

The actuating mechanism for reciprocating thecarriage operates to impart a motion to the carriage in excess of that required to bring the carriage against its rigid stop, which insures a full feed stroke, and to accommodate for such differential motion, compensating means to be hereinafter described in detail is interposed between the to avoid injury to the parts.

The pawl or finger 33 is yieldingly urged toward the table upon the tag'strip by a spring 38 housed within a bore in the carriage. The pawl in a retreat stroke of the carriage engages a stationary guide ledge 39 secured to and projecting from guard rail 25 (see Figs. 7, 8 and 9) for swinging the pawl upward to raise its tooth to an elevation free from engagement with the tag strip. The guide ledge is set with relation to the tag strip slits so that it will not permit the pawl tooth to bear upon the strip until the "tooth has advanced with the carriage sufiiciently to bring thetooth within the slit with, which the tooth must engage for a determined tag feed. The length of carriage reciprocating motion, therefore, may be indeterminate relative to any particular tag width, adapting the machine to successfully feed tag strips of different tag widths or sizes, from a maximum large size of tag and for many different siZes without making any adjust ment, and the only adjustment necessary within the capacity ofthe machine to adapt it from one range of tag sizes to another is tochange the location of the its proper control of the pawl so that it will engage into the tag slits when moving in a feeding direction, one slit in each stroke and in a consecutive order.

Inthe preferred arrangement the pawl tooth always engages into the slit or notch separating the end tag from its next successive tag atthe forward end of the strip, so which contains the printed data, to a point to be delivered or discharged from the machine when severed and the next successive tag in a position to be printed. This is a feature of economy, as

it leaves but one printed tagin the machine after the last tag of a required number has been severed from the strip, and which is brought more to note when the data printing is frequently changed.

The carriage is reciprocated by a rotating cam wheel 40 fixed upon the shaft 8 having a cam groove 41 of determining configuraguide ledge 39 for screw 44 fixed to the frame of the machine.

The opposite end of said link 42 pivotally connects with a connecting link 45. The

link 45 abuttingly engages with the end of a counterbored block 46 fixed to the lever 47, and yieldingly secured to said block by a screw as concentrically engaged into the end of the link as. The screw 48 engages through the counterbore of said lolock and is provided with a spring 49 which has one end engaging against a seat in the block bore, and the opposite end of the spring engages the head of the screw as. The lever 47 at one end is fulcrumed upon a stationary pivot or screw 50 engagedinto the frame, while the opposite end of said lever is forked to slidably connect with the screw 51 projecting from the gih 30 of the carriage 28. For a retreat motion of the carriage the lever on link 42 is swung by the cam with the link imparting a pushing motion to the lever l? through the influence of the link 45 directly engaging against the block 46, and in an alternate motion connecting with the lever 47 through the spring 49. The spring has a tension suflicient to uninterruptedly move the carriage in its forward direction, overcoming any resistance offered in the feed of the tag strip until the carriage strikes against the right stop or bumper screw. 87, whence its motion will be arrested and any continued motion of the link 42 in its carriage feeding stroke compensated for by the flex of the spring 49. The tension of the spring49 can be adjusted by the screw 48 of the connecting link 45.

An ink pad holder 52 is removably mounted upon the upper surface of the carriage,

and located so that when the carriage is moved to the forward end of its stroke, vthe pad 53 will be immediately beneath the type chase 15 for inking thetype, the sl de 2, for such purpose, and at a properly timed interval, being given a slight reciprocating motion suiiicient to bring the type upon the pad and to raise the same therefrom and not form any obstruction to the carriage retreat. After the carriage has moved to its rearward position, the slide 2 will be moved for its full reciprocating stroke to print the tag advanced by the previous forward stroke of the carriage.

manner in. the machine operation, the tag strip is inserted upon the table and engaged between the guide rail 22, or guide rail or surface 18 depending upon the style of tag, and the tension plate 21, and the strip is pushed forward upon the table sufliciently to enable the feeding pawl 33 to engage into the first of the series of notches cut into the tag, so as to appropriately feed the tag in a feeding stroke of the carriage. As the carriage feeding stroke is limited or stopped, which is proportioned so that at the end of its stroke it will definitely bring the tag to be printed upon in proper registry and alinement with the feeding and severing devices, the end of each tag, irrespective of its individual width, is always brought to a point under the knife for severing the tag from the strip.

The cam operating the carriage has its cam groove of a configuration adapting the carriage to dwell at the ends of its stroke for a proper timing operation with. respect to the reciprocating motions of the slide 2 carrying the printing and severing devices.

The dwell of the carriage at the end of its rear stroke is sufficient to enable the slide to make its complete full stroke downwardly for a printing and severing operation, and the dwell of the carriage at the forward end is provided for the purpose of enabling the inking pad to he held stationary, while pressing the type thereon for an inking operation. The cam groove 6 for reciprocating the slide 2 is of a configuration to provide for differential reciprocating stroke lengths for bringing the type against the inking pad and raising the same therefrom to free the typepad for the reverse or retreat movement of the carriage, and for-a full length stroke, which alternates its short stroke for bringing the printing and severing devices to coiiperate with the tag strip, and during such stroke the carriage has moved rearwardly so as not to obstruct or interfere with the motion of the slide 2. The cam groove 6 is also arranged to cause the slide to dwell at the ends of the reciprocating stroke to provide a proper timing for the carriage motion.

The pad inking surface and type therefor, in an inking operation assume a relatively parallel position and the type is brought diing across the table and mounted to rcciprocate longitudinally parallel with and, over I of the table against'which one edge of the tag strip engages, a carriage extending across the table and mounted to reciprocate longitudinally parallel with the table,

mounted to reciprocate said carriage having .a the carriage over the table adapted to engage and advance the tag in a carriage stroke, and release from the tag in an alternate stroke, a reciprocating means movable transversely to the table for operating upon the tag strip, and means for reciprocating said carriage and member in timed relation and for causing each to dwell at the ends of each stroke.

3. In a machine of the character described, a support providing a table for supporting and tracking a gang tag strip, said table longitudinally having a shoulder extend ng above the plane of the table against which one edge of he tag strip riage extending across the table and mounted to reciprocate for advancing the, tag strip intermittently having a finger swinging from the carriage over the table adapted in one carriage stroke to engage with thetag strip for moving the same therewith, and release 'inan alternate stroke, a means transversely to the carriage adapted to operate upon the tag strip, and means for reciprocating said carriage and member in timed-relation and said member in difierential stroke lengths.

a. In a machine of the character described,

a support having a table provided with a.

tracking a gang tag shouldered edge for strip along said edge, a carriage movable over said table, a rigid abutment at the end of the forward carriage travel for determinately stopping said carriage, feeding means carried by said carnage, an inkingpad upon said printing member movable in difierential lengths'of motion for alternately cooperating with said inking-pad and tag strip.

5. In a machine of the character described, a support having a table for tracking a gang tag strip, a carriage having a finger swinging above the table for engaging and feeding the tag strip longitudinally upon the table for consecutive tag length advance, a rigid abutment a table capable of track?" 'to provide abutments to be engaged by feedfinger swinging from. 'in the tag strip and move a support having a engages, a car;

severing the tag strip feeding means, a

for definitely limitpad; mounted upon said carriage and carried thereby beneath the type. surface of said printing means.

6. A machine of the character described, 75 a support providing a table capable of tracking a gang tag strip, the strip longitudinally having notches in spaced relation ing means, a carriage mounted to reciproea cate above said table in a direction longitudinal with the tag strip, said carriage having a finger swinging to engage into a notch the strip with one and releasing therefrom in a-reverse' stroke, for advancing the tag strip intermittently for determined distances, a

rigid abutment for definitely limiting the forward carriage travel, means reciprocating transversely to the carriage in alternate differential stroke lengths and in timed relation to said carriage, and supporting printing devices to cooperate with the tag strip upon the table, and with an inking pad, and

an inking pad movable beneath the printing device in timed relation thereto.

7. In a device of the character described,

table capable of tracka carriage mounted torethe table, having a finger carriage stroke,

ing a tag strip,

ciprocate above we swinging frame therefrom for engaging and feeding said strip, a determined distance in each feeding stroke and earn ing an inking pad, a rigid abutment for de nitely limiting the forward carriage travel, means carrying printing devices reciprocating transversely and in timed relation to the carriage and at differential stroke lengths, for alternately moving said printing devices into cooperation with said inking pad and strip upon the table.

8. "in a machine for feeding a tag strip, printing upon the tags of the strip, and tags from the, strip, atable support upon which the strip is fed longi- 11b tudmally, a longitudinal channel in said table for receiving the fastening devices of the tags of said strip, a longitudinal guide rail along one side of the table for guiding one size'of tag strip, and a second guide rail 1% spaced from and parallel with said firstnamed rail for a second size of tag strip movable into and out of commission, and a third rail longitudinal of and overhangingsaid table for confining the strip. upon the 1% table, and yielding means opposite said rails for engaging an opposite edge of the tag strip and urging the strip against the rails.

9. in a machine of the character described, a support having a horlzontal table for sup-- 130 bit.

porting and tracking a gang tag strip, a' carriage slidable upon said support over the table and tag strip, a finger swinging from said carriage between the carriage and table, having a toothed end to engage into a notch in the tag strip for connecting therewith toadvance the strip with the car riage, an inking pad mounted upon said carriage, a rigid abutment for definitely limiting the forward carriage travel, areciprocating slide reciprocating transversely to the carriage, having an arm overhanging the table and above thecarriage planes, for

dependingly supporting type means for reciprocating said carriage and slide in time relation.

10. In a machine of the' character dea gang fordefinitely "limiting the forward movement of said carriage, feedingl means mounted on said carriage forengaging with and advancing the tag strip, means for reciprocating said carriage, having compensating means yielding to motion when said carriage engages said abutment, an inkingpad upon said carriage, a printing member movable in differential strokes transverse to the carriage for alternately cooperating with said inking-pad and strip upon the table. I

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name, as attested by the two subscribing Witnesses.

l FREDERICK KOHNLE. Witnesses:

EMMA SPENER, L. A. BECK. 

